Lung mechanics and pulmonary function testing in cetaceans

作者：Fahlman Andreas^*; Loring Stephen H; Levine Gregg; Rocho Levine Julie; Austin Trevor; Brodsky Micah

来源：Journal of Experimental Biology, 2015, 218(13): 2030-2038.

DOI：10.1242/jeb.119149

• Lung mechanics
• Total lung capacity
• Minimum air volume
• Excised lung
• Diving physiology
• Marine mammals

We measured esophageal pressures, respiratory flow rates, and expired O-2 and CO2 in six adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) during voluntary breaths and maximal (chuff) respiratory efforts. The data were used to estimate the dynamic specific lung compliance (sC(L)), the O-2 consumption rate ((V)over dot(O2)) and CO2 production rates ((V)over dot(CO2)) during rest. Our results indicate that bottlenose dolphins have the capacity to generate respiratory flow rates that exceed 130 l s(-1) and 30 l s(-1) during expiration and inspiration, respectively. The esophageal pressures indicated that expiration is passive during voluntary breaths, but active during maximal efforts, whereas inspiration is active for all breaths. The average sC(L) of dolphins was 0.31 +/- 0.04 cmH(2)O(-1), which is considerably higher than that of humans (0.08 cmH(2)O(-1)) and that previously measured in a pilot whale (0.13 cmH(2)O(-1)). The average estimated (V)over dot(O2) and (V)over dot(CO2) using our breath-by-breath respirometry system ranged from 0.857 to 1.185 l O-2 min(-1) and 0.589 to 0.851 l CO2 min(-1), respectively, which is similar to previously published metabolic measurements from the same animals using conventional flow-through respirometry. In addition, our custom-made system allows us to approximate end tidal gas composition. Our measurements provide novel data for respiratory physiology in cetaceans, which may be important for clinical medicine and conservation efforts.

• 出版日期2015-7